Food waste disposer



United States Patent Diliee 3,374,958 Patented Mar. 26, 1968 3,374,958 FOOD WASTE DISPOSER William M. Shive, Louisville, Ky., assignor to General Electric Cmpany, a corporation of New York Filed June 11, 1965, Ser. No. 463,153 6 Claims. (Cl. 241-46) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A stopper having passageways therethrough to allow water to drain from a sink or enter disposer for comminuting operation. A member is provided to selectively open and close the passageways. Means are also provided to separate at least a portion of the stopper periphery from its sealing surface to vent the comminuting chamber of the disposer as the passageways are opened.

This invention relates generally to food waste disposers for use with a kitchen sink or similar structure and, more particularly, to an improved stopper means to selectively retain water in the sink or allow it to enter the disposer.

Most commonly available food waste disposers, intended primarily for use in the home, are adapted for use beneath the kitchen sink. Such a food waste disposer is provided with an open-top housing defining a comminuting chamber. Means are provided to support the housing beneath the sink with its open top aligned with the sink drain opening. With this arrangement, food waste may be placed in the sink and then gradually fed into the disposer along with water. Food waste disposers for use in the home generally fall into one of two categories; the first is the continuous feed type wherein food waste may be continuously fed into the disposer during operation and the second is the batch feed type wherein the disposer is filled with food waste and then operated until the food waste is comminuted whereupon the unit is deenergized and refilled. The batch feed type has met with success since it usually provides an inherent safety feature which prevents the housewife from accidently inserting her hand into the disposer during its operation. This safety feature usually takes the form of a combined stopper and control means which fits into the sink drain outlet and serves the plural functions of a conventional sink stopper, control means to energize and tie-energize the disposer, and as a guard to prevent the ejection of particles through the sink drain as well as the insertion of a hand into the disposer during its operation.

Combined stopper and control means heretofore available allowed water to enter the disposer during its operation, the presence of water being necessary so that the comminuted food waste will form a liquid solution and be flushed through the sewer system, either through selectively closable passageways in the stopper or by raising the stopper axially a short distance to allow water to pass between the periphery of the stopper and the surface upon which it normally seats.

The present invention is primarily concerned with that type of stopper having passageways therein to allow water to enter the disposer during operation or to allow draining of the sink. I have discovered that under certain circumstances air may be entrapped within the comminuting chamber of the disposer and this air will impede the flow of water into the disposer through the passageways provided in the stopper. This impedance may occur during operation of the disposer and also during normal draining of the sink. I further have discovered that by venting the comminuting chamber of the disposer at the time the passageways are opened, the entrapped air can escape thereby removing the impedance to flow of water.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved stopper for a food waste disposer.

It is another object of this invention to provide a stopper for a food waste disposer wherein the stopper releases air entrapped within the comminuting chamber of the disposer.

Briefly stated, in accordance with one aspect of this invention, there is provided an improved stopper for a food waste disposer primarily adapted for use beneath the sink or similar structure. The stopper is adapted to rest within the drain outlet of the sink and has at least one passageway therethrough to allow water to pass from the sink into the disposer. A movable member is manually operable to selectively open and close the passageway. Further means are provided to separate at least a portion of the periphery of the stopper from the surface upon which it normally'seats as the movable member opens the passageway. The separation of the periphery of the stopper from its seat provides suitable venting for the escape of any air entrapped within the comminuting chamber of the disposer.

While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which is regarded as' the invention, it is believed the invention will be better understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view, partially cut away to show details, of a food waste disposer employing the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a view similar to FIGURE 2 but showing the stopper of the present invention in a condition to allow draining of the sink without operation of the disposer;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary view similar to FIGURE 1 but showing the stopper in the condition wherein water is allowed to pass into the disposer and the disposer is energized; and p FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 3 but showing the stopper in the condition of FIGURE 4.

Referring now to the drawings and particularly to FIGURE 1, there is shown a food waste disposer 10 with which the present invention may be used. The disposer 10 includes a generally cylindrical upper housing 11 having a comminuting chamber 12 therein and being secured at its lower end to a lower housing 13. The upper end of housing 11 is designed to be suspended from the drain opening or outlet of a typical kitchen sink 14. Any suitable suspension means may be employed for this purpose and such means is disclosed and claimed by Johnny W. Yartz and Francis J. Clements in US. Patent 3,180,- 755, which issued on Oct. 29, 1963, and is assigned to the General Electric Company, assignee of the present invention. Since this particular suspension means does not form a material part of the present invention it is not discussed in detail herein; however, it should be pointed out that the lower end of a sink flange or depending sleeve 15 cooperates with elements of the present invention as more fully discussed hereinafter.

An electric motor, including a stator 16 and a rotor 17, is supported within housing 13 and is provided with an upwardly extending shaft 18. Shaft 18 is supported by member 19 and bearing 20. The upper end of shaft 18 is connected to a com'minuating assembly shown generally at 21. Comminuting assembly 21 includes a flywheel 22 having at least one pivotal impeller 23 secured thereto by a bolt 24. Cooperating with impeller 23 to effectuate a comminuting action is at least one cutting surface 25 3 which projects inwardly from a stationary shredding ring 26. Openings 27 are provided in Shredding ring 26 for the passage of comminuted food waste into a sump 28, from which the comminuted food waste passes into the normal household sewer system (not shown) through an outlet 29.

Generally, the construction thus far described does not form a material part of the present invention and, as will become more evident as the description proceeds, many of the aforementioned elements may be materially modified from the specific illustration shown in the drawing.

The operation of the device as thus far described, is as follows. Food waste is inserted into housing 11 by the operator. As is customary in a food waste disposer of the type shown in FIGURE 1, it is desirable to have the kitchen faucet running to provide a constant supply of water into the comminuting chamber 12 during operation of the disposer. The electric motor is energized whereupon shaft 18 rotates, and with it, the comminuting assembly 21. The food waste in chamber 12 is comminuted by the interaction between impeller 23 and cutting surface 25. As the food waste is comminuted, the water entering the chamber 12 carries the ground-up food waste through openings 27 into sump 28 below the comminuting assembly 21. The food waste is carried from sump 28 to the normal household sewer system through outlet 29.

In order to allow the housewife to utilize sink 14 in the conventional manner for dishwashing or other purposes, it is necessary to provide means in the open top of housing 11 to prevent the flow of water through sleeve during those times when it is desired to retain water in sink 14. Moreover, in order to gain the benefits of the batch feed type disposer wherein the possibility of a hand being inserted into the comminuting chamber or the possibility of particles being ejected from the chamber during operation of the disposer are minimized, the means provided to retain water in sink 14 must be provided with passageways therein. Finally, to gain yet another benefit of the batch feed type disposer, the means should have associated therewith a switch operator so that the disposer can be energized at the same time that the passageways are opened to allow water to enter the disposer during its operation.

There is provided a stopper 30 having a generally circular cup-shaped element 31. Element 31 has a peripheral portion 32 which is provided with a gasket or seal 33 suitably bonded thereto. Seal 33, and in turn element 31, rests upon an inturned flange 34 at the lower extremity of sleeve 15. Element 31 and seal 33 normally provide a substantially liquid-tight seal with flange 34 when stopper 30 is positioned as illustrated in FIGURE 1. It is to be understood that flange 34 need not be an integral part of sleeve 15 in order to comply with the present invention. For example, flange 34 could project inwardly, with some modification, from the upper extremity of housing 11.

In the central depressed portion of element 31 there is provided two openings or passageways 35 and 36. R0- tatably carried by element 31 is a movable member 37 of suflicient size so that when it is disposed in the position illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2, it will completely cover passageways 35 and 36 to prevent the flow of water therethIou-gh. A T-shaped handle 38 is also rotatably carried by element 31 and passes through the central portion of element 31. A bolt 39, or other suit able means, provides a connection between handle 38 and member 37 so that when handle 38 is rotated, member 37 will rotate therewith. Member 37 is of sufficient size and is in sufficiently close relationship with the central portion ofelement 31, to completely close off passageways 35 and 36 to prevent the passage of water therethrough when it is in the position illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2.

An insert 40 of suitably non-corrosive material is rigidly secured to the inner surface of the upper portion of housing 11. One material which has been found suitable for use as the insert 40 is an asbestos-filled polypropylene molding material which provides a rigid, non-corrosive insert which may be press fit into housing 11 so as to be rigidly secured thereto. Insert 40 has two generally diametrically opposed protrusions 41 and 42 which cooperate with indentations 43 and 44 in element 31 to prevent element 31 from rotating relative to insert 40 or housing 11. By preventing the rotation of element 31, it is possible to rotate member 37 relative to element 31 by a simple twist of handle 38.

Handle 38 and member 37 have three stable functional positions. The first position is that illustrated in FIG- URES 1 and 2 wherein element 37 blocks passageways 35 and 36 so that stopper 30 will retain water in sink 14. The second position is that ilustrated in FIGURE 3 wherein element 37 has been rotated approximately to at least partially open passageways 35 and 36 to allow water to drain from sink 14 down through chamber 12 into sump 28 and finally into the sewer system through outlet 29. The third position is that illustrated in FIGURES 4 and 5 wherein member 37 has been rotated approximately from the position in FIGURE 1. In the third position, passageways 35 and 36 are still free to pass liquid into chamber 12 but additionally one of a pair of extensions 45 and 46, located at opposite ends of member 37, engage and depresses a button 47 extending from a switch 48. The depression of button 47, to the extent illustrated in FIGURES 4 and 5, closes switch 48 which energizes the electric drive motor and causes disposer 10 to operate. Switch 48 is, of course, suitably secured to housing 11 by a bracket 49 which may be brazed or welded to the outer surface of housing 11.

In order to stabilize member 37 in each of its three functional positions, a spring-biased ball and detent arrangement is provided between member 37 and element 31. This arrangement includes a leaf spring 50, secured to the bottom surface of member 37 by bolt 39, a pair of balls 51 and appropriate detents 52 in element 31 which receive balls 51.

Although certain aspects of the aforedescribed 'arrangement presently appear novel, the broad concept of a combined stopper and control means for a food waste disposer wherein the stopper has one or more movable elements to serve the three functions discussed above, is old. However, as mentioned above, it has been discovered that under certain circumstances air may be en"- trapped within the comminuting chamber of the disposer and the entrapped air will impede the flow of water into the disposer, both during operation of the disposer and when the housewife is attempting to simply drain water from the sink. In accordance with the present invention means are provided to vent the comminuting chamber of the disposer so that the entrapped air can escape thereby removing the impedance to flow of water. This means, in one embodiment, includes a cam 53 having an inclined surface 54, on the insert 40. Cam '53 extends inwardly from the inner surface of insert 40 such that, as member 37 is rotated, one end of member 37 will ride up surface 54. As illustrated in FIGURE 4, when member 37 rides up surface 54, seal 33 separates from flange 34. The separation of gasket or seal 33 from flange 34 provides an effective vent for air entrapped within chamber 12 to escape therefrom.

To better understand the phenomenon which occurs, it should be understood that water very quickly and very easily covers passageways 35 and 36 and only a very small volume of water is required to substantially fill sleeve 15. The user of a food waste disposer such as that illustrated in FIGURE 1, is instructed to open the faucet above sink 14 prior to turning handle 38 when it is desired to operate the disposer. This instruction is intended to assure that water will be present within chamber 12 prior to operation of the comminuting assembly since dry operation of the assembly might well result in clogging and jamming of both openings 27 and sump 28 as well as the sewer system downstream from sump 28. Accordingly, when the housewife turns on the faucet it is only a matter of moments before sleeve 15 becomes filled with water so that passageways 35 and 36 are completely immersed. When handle 38 is then rotated to energize the disposer, there is no way for the air entrapped within chamber 12 to escape except through passageways 35 and 36 which are, as indicated, covered with water. It is not unusual for a static condition to be so created that the air entrapped within the chamber 12 prevents water from passing through passageways 35 and 36.

Of course, the identical static condition may be created simply by filling the sink 14 with water 'and then attempting to drain the sink by rotating handle 38 and member 37 to the position illustrated in FIGURE 3. The only way for the air to escape is to bubble up through passageways 35 and 36 as water is attempting to pass downwardly therethrough.

The separation of at least a portion of the periphery of element 31 from flange 34 provides a secondary means of communication between chamber 12 and sleeve 15 so that as water attempts to enter chamber 12 through passageways 35 and 36 a momentary break-down of the aforedescribed static condition is created which allows the water to begin passing through passageways 35 and 36 and, once it begins to pass through, the static condition is sufiiciently overcome to that the air is no longer entrapped within chamber 12 and will no longer substantially impede the flow of water.

In the preferred form of the present invention, the vent created by the separation of element 31 from flange 34 is at a level above passageways 35 and 36. This means that there is a pressure difierential created between passageways 35 and 36, and the vent by the difference in heads of water above each point. This difference in pressure facilitates the momentary disturbance of the static condition which impedes the flow of water in the chamber 12.

It should be noted that member 37 is symmetrical about its axis of rotation so that when it is removed for the insertion of food waste into chamber 12, no care need be taken when reinstalling it. The only requirement is that either of indentations 43 and 44 be aligned with either of protrusions 41 and 42. It should also be noted that protrusion 42 is positioned immediately above button 47 and an additional protrusion 55 is provided below button 47 to minimize the possibility of depressing button 47 accidentally while food waste is being inserted into chamber 12.

Thus, it can be seen that the present invention provides an improved stopper means to selectively retain water in the sink or allow it to enter a disposer supported below the sink. Moreover, the present invention provides a suitable means for overcoming the problem of air entrapped within the comminuting chamber of a disposer which may impede the flow of water into the disposer.

As will be evident from the foregoing description, certain 'aspects of the invention are not limited to the particular details of construction of the example illustrated, and it is contemplated that various other modifications or applications will occur to those skilled in the art. It is therefore intended that the appended claims shall cover such modifications and applications as do not depart from the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A food waste disposer for use at the outlet drain of a sink or like structure comprising:

(a) a housing having an open top,

(b) means to support said housing below the sink with said open top in alignment with the outlet drain,

(c) a stopper,

(d) means to support said stopper about its periphery,

(c) said last-mentioned means and said stopper normally providing a substantially.liquid-tight se'al therebetween to retain water within the sink,

(f) said stopper having at least one passageway therethrough,

(g) a movable member carried by said stopper to selectively open and close said passageway, and

(h) means operable upon movement of saidmovable members to separate at least a portion of the periphery of said stopper'fromsaid means supporting said stopper as said movable member opens said passageway.

2. A food waste disposer for useat the outlet drain of a sink or like structure comprising: I

(a) ahousing having an open top, I I Y (b) means to support said housing below the sink with said open top in alignment with the outlet drain,

(c) a comminuting chamber within said housing,

(d) comminuting means within said chamber,

(e) an electric motor to drive said comminuting means,

(f) a stopper,

(g) means to support said stopper about its periphery,

(h) said last-mentioned means and said stopper normally providing a substantially liquid-tight seal therebetween to retain water within the sink,

(i) said stopper having at least one passageway therethrough,

(j) a movable member carried by said stopper to selectively open and close said passageway,

(k) a switch carried by said housing to control the energization of said electrical motor,

(1) said movable member being adapted to close said switch and energize said motor when moved to open said passageway, and

(m) means operable upon movement of said movable member to separate at least a portion of the periphery of said stopper from said means supporting said stopper as said movable member opens said passageway.

3. For use with a food waste disposer supported below the outlet drain of the sink, a combined stopper and control means comprising:

(a) an element having a peripheral portion,

(b) means to support said element by engagement with said peripheral portion,

(0) said means and said peripheral portion normally forming a substantially liquid-tight seal,

(d) at least one passageway through said element,

(e) a movable member carried by said element to selectively open and close said passageway, and

(f) means cooperating with said movable member to at least partially separate said peripheral portion from said means to support said element as said movable member moves to open said passageway.

4. The invention defined in claim 3 wherein said element has a central depressed portion and said passageway is located in said central depressed portion at a level below said peripheral portion.

5. A food waste disposer for use at the outlet drain of a sink or like structure comprising:

(a) a housing having an open top,

(b) means to support said housing below the sink with said open top in alignment with the outlet drain,

(c) a comminuting chamber within said housing,

(d) a stopper,

(e) said stopper having at least one passageway therethrough,

(if) a movable member carried by said stopper to selectively open and close said passageway, and

(g) means separate from said passageway to vent said comminuting chamber upon movement of said movable member to open said passageway.

6. A food waste disposer for use at the outlet drain of a sink or like structure comprising: (a) a housing having an open top,

(b) means to support said housing below the sink with said open top in alignment with the outlet drain,

(0) a stopper,

(d) means to support said stopper about its periphery,

(e) said last-mentioned means and said stopper normally providing a substantially liquid-tight seal there- 7 between to retain water within the sink,

(f) said stopper having at least one passageway therethrough,

(g) a movable member carried by said stopper to selectively open and close said passageway, and

, (h) cam means on said housing engageable by said movable member as said movable member is moved to open said passageway whereby said stopper is the periphery of said stopper from said means supporting said stopper.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS HARRY F. PEPPER,

1a., Examiner.

cammed upwardly to separate at least a portion of 15 HARRISON HINSON Primary Examiner- 

